TVA tree-cutting upheld, trial set July 8

February 24th, 2013by The Knoxville News Sentinel in Business Around the Region

Dr. Vance Sherwood, left with his attorney Donald Vowell standing next to one of the trees that TVA is intending to cut down. Some condo residents in Westminister Place subdivsion in West Knoxville have filed a lawsuit against TVA for its plans to take down about 135 trees in order to clear a power line easement. TVA has agreed to a temporary work halt on the matter.

Photo by
The Knoxville News Sentinel /Times Free Press.

A judge's ruling last week in a lawsuit against its tree-cutting policies upholds the right of TVA to manage plant growth under its power lines.

However, the issue of whether the federal utility is in violation of environmental law through these policies remains to be settled. A July 8 trial date has been set in the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Tom Varlan issued rulings on a flurry of motions filed by plaintiffs and defendants in the May lawsuit by some West Knoxville residents against the Tennessee Valley Authority over policies on clearing trees from its power line easements.